The salary cap will make it nearly impossible for Seattle to keep its entire core together for another season. DE Michael Bennett, DT Tony McDaniel, RT Breno Giacomini, CB Walter Thurmond, K Steven Hauschka and wide receivers Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin are free agents. Each of these players are starters or major contributors.

Brandon Browner, the starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman, is also a free agent. The team’s ability to re-sign Browner isn’t even a pressing concern. He is currently suspended for the entirety of the 2014 season. Browner cannot be reinstated earlier than Dec. 18.

The future of the team and how much money the Seahawks have to spend will quickly become a problem. Seattle can’t commit long-term to free agents due to the fact Sherman is a free agent after next season and Russell Wilson can finally renegotiate his rookie contract after his third year in the league. Both will demand top dollar at premium positions.

Seattle will enter next season as the NFL’s top team. They’ve earned that right. But the Seahawks will either have to re-sign or replace key pieces to the puzzle which will make it difficult to be the first team to repeat as champions since the New England Patriots in 2005.